the carillon The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper since 1962
Nov. 8 - 14 2012 | Volume 55, Issue 11 | carillonregina.com
cover I don’t know much about sports, but I’m pretty sure when you get that orange thingy in that white thingy, it’s a good thing. As well, running basketball pictures on the cover is the best, because the players look like they want to high five the Carillon logo. High five,Cougars! Happy issue 11!
the staff editor-in-chief
dietrich neu editor@carillonregina.com business manager shaadie musleh business@carillonregina.com production manager julia dima production@carillonregina.com copy editor michelle jones copyeditor@carillonregina.com news editor taouba khelifa carillonnewseditor@gmail.com a&c editor paul bogdan aandc@carillonregina.com sports editor autumn mcdowell sports@carillonregina.com op-ed editor edward dodd op-ed@carillonregina.com visual editor arthur ward graphics@carillonregina.com ad manager neil adams advertising@carillonregina.com technical coordinator jonathan hamelin technical@carillonregina.com news writer a&c writer sports writer photographers olivia mason tenielle bogdan
arts & culture
Be positive. 5 A derogatory remark made at Pub Trivia Night, where the word 'faggot' was used for laughs, has left some asking a major question: can bars be safe spaces, free from offensive and discriminatory language?
An exhibit for you. 8 Well, not exactly for you, but for Whitney Houston. The exhibit, Whitney’s Biennial, began Nov 3 and runs until Nov 9. Creator Jamie Cooper talks about why he made the exhibion for the pop star.
sports
op-ed
Rams still awesome . 16 With a 31-9 massacre over the Huskies on Nov. 2, the Rams are headed to the Hardy Cup. They’ll be facing the Calgary Dinos this Saturday in hostile territory. Don’t worry; instead of watching a shitty stream of the game, TSN will be broadcasting it live.
Tom has a dream. 18 At a recent forum on the academic review, Tom Chase basically implied that the hopes and dreams of students could be seen in “the numbers”. Here at the Carillon, we find hopes and dreams in our sleepy times, and reality by asking students how they feel. Crazy, right?
kristen mcewen sophie long kyle leitch braden dupuis
marc messett emily wright
contributors this week britton gray kris klein paige kreutzwieser jordan palmer sebastian prost dustin christianson michael chmielewski jocelyn marsden ethan stein regan meloche
the paper THE CARILLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dietrich Neu, Kent Peterson, Edward Dodd, Ed Kapp, Tim Jones, Madeline Kotzer, Anna Weber 227 Riddell Centre University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway Regina, SK, Canada, S4S 0A2 www.carillonregina.com Ph: (306) 586-8867 Fax: (306) 586-7422 Printed by Transcontinental Publishing Inc., Saskatoon
The Carillon welcomes contributions to its pages. Correspondence can be mailed, e-mailed, or dropped off in person. Please include your name, address and telephone number on all letters to the editor. Only the author’s name, title/position (if applicable) and city will be published. Names may be withheld upon request at the discretion of the Carillon. Letters should be no more then 350 words and may be edited for space, clarity, accuracy and vulgarity. The Carillon is a wholly autonomous organization with no affiliation with the University of Regina Students’ Union. Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are expressly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers and not necessarily of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff. The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by The Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non–profit corporation.
the manifesto
In keeping with our reckless, devil-may-care image, our office has absolutely no concrete information on the Carillon’s formative years readily available. What follows is the story that’s been passed down from editor to editor for over forty years.
In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildings was a bell tower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a bell tower. The University never got a bell tower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student. Illegitimi non carborundum.
news
photos news esask.uregina.ca a&c Tenielle Bogdan sports Tenielle Bogdan
op-ed Edward Dodd cover Emily Wright
news
News Editor: Taouba Khelifa news@carillonregina.com the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
U of R sees changes to operations taouba khelifa news editor In July 2009, the University of Regina’s Board of Governors adopted a strategic plan titled mâmawohkamâtowin: Our Work, Our People, Our Communities. Three years after it was implemented, students, staff and administration are beginning to see and feel the implications and effects of the strategic plan - and not everyone is happy. At a public forum held last Monday, Oct. 29, faculty, staff and students were “invited” to voice their concerns and dismay at the many changes being made in the name of mâmawohkamâtowin and the overall repercussions that these changes will have on the quality of post-secondary education at the U of R. Only 6 students made up the congregation of close to 80 attendees at the public forum. When asked why so few students were aware of the meeting, and why there had been no advertising of the event, U of R President, Vianne Timmons, stated that an email should have gone out informing the university community of the forum. No email was sent out to students. Mâmawohkamâtowin is a Cree word meaning “co-operation; working together towards a common goal.” Using this as the basis for building a flourishing campus, the strategic plan aims to outline and resolve several key areas that the University of Regina needs to improve. For instance, the plan outlines the need to build the institution’s reputation for teaching, learning and research excellence, improvement and investment in sustainability, effective and efficient administrative and employee management, and academic reviews of the various departments and faculties on campus. Addressing the attendees at the public forum, President Timmons opened the event by alluding to the financial and resource constraints that the U of R is facing, and the limitations that this has had on the growth of the university. “Canada’s post-secondary sector aims to serve an increasing number of people from a broad perspective of backgrounds, while its resources are ever more constrained,” she began. “I think this is a challenge we have throughout Canada, and at home here at the University of Regina. We’re working hard to advocate with government, to work with donors to try to get more investment in the University of Regina. At the same time, we’re trying hard to accommodate the needs of our students, provide relevant programming, and meet the challenge of the provincial and national job market.” After several years of decreased enrollments at the U of R, 2004 to 2009 being a period of minimum enrollment, student numbers “have increased [considerably], with more than 13,000 students - the highest total in the University’s history - now regis
esask.uregina.ca
The strategic plan at the U of R has many questioning the changes taking place
tered at the University and its three federated collages,” the Strategic Plan reads. Thomas Chase, U of R Provost and Vice-President of Academic, added to this, saying that “We’ve dipped pretty substantially after 2004, and we’ve now recovered that ground and exceeded it. And in future years, we need to pay, as I say, much more attention to the appropriate range of programs and getting students into those programs, and retaining them to graduation.” President Timmons continued on her remarks, explaining that budget cuts to the U of R have had, and will continue to have consequence on the staff, faculty, programs and students at the University. “Even though we’ve been continuing to grow, it’s been a tough year last year ...We cut 3.4 million dollars in our budget. Our undergraduate tuition increased by 4 or 9 per cent depending on the program, and the graduate tuition by 9 per cent. We had to eliminate 25 faculty and staff positions, and they were done primarily through attrition, but there were a few in the admin side,” said Timmons. With about 18 months left for the full implementation of the strategic plan, Timmons noted that most of the plan’s suggestions are well under way. “As you know, the strategic plan for teaching and learning is well under way, and I think coming to [acceptance in] council in December. Your academic program review is ongoing ... and our research strategic plan has been accepted and moving forward. Sustainability, in our [strategic plan] is highlighted, and we have the President’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability looking at a number of environmental initiatives and broader questions of institutional sustainability, and will be making recommendations to me as we go forward.” But perhaps the most challenging and criticized portion of the strategic plan is the academic review, which has many faculties
and students worried about the future of the programs offered at the U of R, and the fate of some of the university’s departments. Chase, who has been heading the academic review portion of the strategic plan, stated that while some programs at the university are flourishing - such as the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, a new program in Health Administration, growth in Kinesiology and Health Studies, innovations “in geology to serve mining, [and] innovations in engineering” - other areas and
programs are “a little bit more stretched, or stressed.” One of the faculties that will be facing possible “implications over the next couple of years, from what we’re led to expect from the budget,” stated Chase, is the English department on campus. According to the academic review, “in order to succeed, the University must be selective in the programs it offers, [and] determine how our array of program offerings should be altered to respond to the needs and interests of current and prospective stu-
dents. This process is ultimately designed to help the University focus limited resources in a way that increases our program quality, our reputation, and our longterm institutional sustainability.” At the public forum, Chase elaborated on this controversial position, telling the audience that the university has become “increasingly sensitive to demand and enrollment, [and] if the government contribution, in real terms, is contracting, we need to pay more attention to the array of programs that students want and need, and to getting students into these programs.” With such program and faculty changes in effect, or near approval, Chase stressed that the university cannot be “all things to all people,” and that changes to certain areas, such as the Department of English, are inevitable. Many questions remain unanswered by the university’s Board of Governors, especially questions regarding the changes taking place in the academic review. Students and staff continue to be on edge about the consequences of such changes, and the futures of their faculties and programs. In an effort to provide an open dialogue and answer some of these pressing questions, the University has organized an academic program review forum to be held on Wednesday Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the Education Auditorium. The Carillon highly encourages all students to make it to this forum if possible.
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the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
news
$202,484 in the red Audit reveals heavy financial deficits for URSU last year.
Julia Dima
dietrich neu editor-in-chief URSU ended their 2012 fiscal year with a $202,484 deficit, according to a financial audit conducted by MNP LLP, an independent firm of Chartered Accountants. The Saskatchewan based accounting company examined URSU’s finances from April, 2011, to April, 2012, and found that the student organization had uncharacteristic deficiencies in information services and the Owl’s revenue. URSU requested the audit after CFS Saskatchewan representative Paige Kezima informed them of the allegations surrounding (then URSU president) Haanim Nur. “We felt that because of the relationship between URSU and Haanim Nur that it was probably important for us to check our books and make sure that nothing was taken from our accounts,” said Nathan Sgrazzutti, URSU president. “Luckily nothing was taken and our books were clean.” Although the audit confirmed that Haanim had not defrauded URSU as well, the organization did not get through 2012 financially unscathed. The report indicates that the Owl ended the 2011 fiscal year with a surplus of $40,772; however, a year later they were $157,890 in the red. URSU also lost $12,466 on “Information Services, TV” last year, and lost an additional $27,277 on their investments over the course of 2012. The massive drop in the Owl’s revenue is by far the most striking of all the statistics reported by the audit statement. “Being that far in the red
spells doom for any restaurant,” Sgrazzutti said. “For the Students’ Union bar to be $157,890 in debt means that URSU had to spend money, that could have been used to a student benefit, to keep the bar afloat.” Kent Peterson, URSU’s president during the 2012 fiscal year, declined to comment on the audit. Paige Kezima, who also served on the executive at that time, declined to comment as well. Nur, who served as VP Operations & Finance in 2012, could not be reached either. Peterson noted that because he no longer occupies his spot on the URSU executive he could not speak to the matter, and suggested the Carillon speak with the Owl’s managers instead. Owl management could not be reached by press time due to other commitments. None of the current URSU executive sat on the executive committee last year when the Owl’s financial troubles took place. As for why the Owl’s revenue uncharacteristically dropped in 2012, Sgrazzutti believes it was not because of a lack of interest. “I don’t think it was that as much as I think it was that the
Owl was not being supported by its parent organization [URSU],” he said. “The Students’ Union is in charge of being the middle way between PAC student societies and event groups coming into the Owl and setting up events. “The publicity that we can do for the Owl is huge,” he continued. “It is our responsibility to give the Owl the support that it needs and say ‘hey, there is an event happening.’ We need to expand the opportunity for the Owl to make money, and in turn, make money for students.” Sgrazzutti mentioned several successful events over the past weeks – such as the Regina Rams playoff after party – that he believes were fueled by URSU actively seeking out student groups to host events at the Owl. Apparently, that initiative was not part of the last URSU executive’s mandate. “You see what they did under a group like Kyle Addision, where they were $40,772 up, and that was because that executive committee worked on it,” Sgrazzutti said. “Then the next year, Owl revenue drops almost $200,000. That is huge.” Both Sgrazzutti and current
URSU VP Operations & Finance, Mitch Simpson, agreed the previous URSU student executives did not provide the level of support for the Owl that they needed to. “The lack of executive support to run the business as a parent company is definitely a big reason why we lost money,” Simpson said. In 2011, URSU made an agreement with PAC student societies to host at least one event per semester at the Owl. According to Simpson, that agreement resulted in events like Beer Fest, Business Students’ Society cabarets, and a host of others. “That is a big revenue draw,” he said. “I’m not sure why, but I guess the other executive just didn’t want to go that route.” A successful cabaret – at full capacity – can net the Owl $10,000 to $20,000 in revenue in a single evening. But without an agreement with PAC groups to host events at the campus bar, many of them didn’t. “It is not to say that all of them didn’t, but a lot of events were missed out on last year,” Simpson said. “If you are missing out on four or five PAC society events, each semester, it is pretty easy to
do the math about how much potential money was lost.” “There was no working relationship built between the executive and the Owl [last year],” Sgrazzutti added. “There was no working relationship even with the society members. That is not how you are supposed to run this organization.” This year, URSU is working to restore the old agreement with the PAC societies to provide benefits for student societies who decide to host events at the Owl. “We are having a vested interest in giving the PAC societies what they need to host events on campus without having to go elsewhere,” Simpson said. “If they decide to go off campus to Whisky’s or the Rugby Club, or any venue outside of the school, that money is going back to those venues, and not back to students. “You need to build working relationships with the people who could be using the venue if you want it to work,” he added. “It goes a long way, and I think that got missed out on last year. We are hoping to get back to where we were before, that would be our goal to help bring the Owl back.”
“ There was no working relationship built between the executive and the Owl [last year]. There was no working relationship even with the society members. That is not how you are supposed to run this organization.” Nathan Sgrazzutti
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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Pub trivia tag-lines offensive Derogatory language makes some feel uncomfortable at The Owl kristen mcewen news writer Bars aren’t exactly places for polite conversation – campus bars are no exception. Jokes made within the walls of The Owl can be edgy, but sometimes edgy crosses the line into very offensive territory. During The Owl’s Trivia Night held on Oct. 11, tag-lines for teams included derogatory words such as “faggot” and other homophobic statements. According to Nathaniel Cole, a regular patron at the bar, seeing and hearing the rest of the crowd laugh and the hosts of the game encourage the word to be used made him feel singled out in the room. “I think probably being one of the only out gay men in the room hear[ing] the word “faggot”, it was really isolating and it was kind of scary,” Cole said. “It kind of hit home for me because those are the kind of words I’ve heard my entire life, you know? I decided that I was going to do something about it.” That evening, Cole took to Twitter to express his disapproval. Taking his frustrations further, Cole decided to write a ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the Carillon, which was published on October 18. The letter spoke about his experience that evening and how un-welcomed he felt being in the room. In the letter, he acknowledged that he knew the management at The Owl did not condone these types of actions, but he still wanted an apology from the hosts. After the letter was published, Cole said he received some backlash. “I felt kind of shitty for a couple days,” he said. “It took a lot for me to, you know, publish in the newspaper - outing myself to
Arthur Ward
UR Pride gave “Positive Space” training to The Owl staff after an incident left some feeling offended and unsafe
the entire campus, or the entire city or [whoever else] reads it. It’s a difficult part of the process, and there are people who hurt my feelings or made me feel unsafe. It just took me a lot to do that because lots of times I just don’t say anything and go on with it.” On Oct. 11, The Owl’s manager, Alexis Losie, was out of the country and noticed Cole’s comments on Twitter about the homophobic attitude at the bar that evening. She direct messaged him and promised an apology would be made. The same day that Cole’s letter appeared in the paper, Losie made an official apology with the staff face-to-face with Cole. “I think it would have been a really easy solution for us to just write a letter in, remain faceless as
an organization versus ‘we’re the people who make the decisions’ these are the people who made the comments,” she said. “Nathaniel was the one who felt scared and definitely a victim in this situation so talking to him face-to-face was [an] obvious move. It was logical. It was what I wanted to do. It’s hard to admit you were wrong, it’s hard to say ‘I’m sorry and I made a mistake.’ So for all of us to have to do [that] to Nathaniel and actually see his face, you know, that’s a hard one when you can see emotion on someone’s face versus reading it on a page.” Since that Trivia Night, the opportunity for teams to use taglines has been removed. Losie said that she wasn’t unaware of some of the more offen-
sive taglines that were used in the past, but hosts had said it was hard to censor what would be offensive to some and not to others. Losie also added that another regular patron approached her expressing their discomfort with jokes about child molestation since they had experienced it when they were younger. At times, expressed Losie, she had also taken offense to explicit taglines including one that implied violence against women and necrophilia. “I just wanted to address our customers. You don’t know how it affects the person sitting at a table beside you or even someone at your table when you laugh about that stuff,” Losie said. On Nov. 6, The Owl staff received Positive Space Training from the UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. The Positive Space sessions explain the “benefits of making a space more inclusive [for] LGBQT identities,” said UR Pride’s executive director Leah Keiser. The sessions also explain how to use respectful language, and how to stand up against others using the language. “It’s not going to be exactly a positive space session because it would be kind of impossible to designate a common area in The Owl [but] what we could do though is designate a space like the kitchen or Alexis’ office or something like that. Regardless,
we really wanted to bring that exact training to The Owl. That would be a first good step to combating the incident that had occurred and incidents that happened before. And Alexis had requested it.” Losie said by having the training, the worst thing to happen would be for staff members to only adopt the new attitude temporarily. “But the best case scenario is that they extend [the training] outside of here, and also take it to their friends when they’re at a house party, [so when] these words come up they make a point of saying it’s not acceptable,” she said. While Cole said he has put the incident behind him, he is not optimistic that anything is about to change. “I don’t think there’s going to be any drastic change, but at least there’s people talking about it,” he said. “But at the same time, the only people talking about it are the ones who care about these issues in the first place ... The people who need to change their mind set haven’t heard about it or don’t care. But I hope for those that have, that it’s kind of made them think that it’s 2012 — just because gay people can get married doesn’t mean there’s equality across the board and there’s not oppression for those people on a daily basis.”
“ It’s hard to admit you were wrong, it’s hard to say ‘I’m sorry and I made a mistake’. So for all of us to have to do [that] to Nathan and actually see his face, you know, that’s a hard one when you can see emotion on someone’s face versus reading it on a page.” Alexis Losie
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the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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The real horrors of our world Amnesty International’s club hosts movie night to show the horrors of war sophie long news writer The University of Regina’s Amnesty International group organized a Halloween event on Oct. 29 called the “Real Horrors” movie night. The movie night showcased some of the planet’s more prominent and continuing human rights issues, and focused on the Shell oil spills in Nigeria. The movie was coupled with the 1954 culture classic The Creature from the Black Lagoon to parallel the current issues facing Nigeria. Halena Seiferling, a member of the University of Regina’s Amnesty International campus club, said the movie night had an overall fun atmosphere, despite the heavy topic. “People could come and watch this really old movie and laugh at how it was supposedly scary back in the day, and have some popcorn, some treats and some drinks, and have an enjoyable evening for Halloween,” she said. While the movie night was a fun alternative around Halloween, it did touch on some big problems. Seiferling said that the goal of the evening was to get people to talk “about the environmental destruction [in Nigeria], and how the people in the area feel, [with] their water being polluted and everything.
vietnam-war.commemoration.gov
War and violence - one of the many real horrors of the world
“There’s actually some really bad things happening, and they’re really scary and happening in the world today.” The University of Regina’s Amnesty International group has decided to make the Shell Oil spills a focus for the upcoming months. “One of the ongoing campaigns we’ve agreed to work on is raising awareness about Shell Oil both in Nigeria and here,” Seiferling said. “[That’s] a pretty
common thing up in Northern Alberta in one of the indigenous communities, and so we’re trying to link this issue back to Canada.” Amnesty International will be gearing events and awareness campaigns towards tackling this issue. The focus will be on creating awareness on campus regarding the challenges this creates and how many people the issue affects. Seiferling said that the group will be encouraging conversation
regarding the oil problem, explaining that the group will encourage students to “talk about the problems with these accidents
that happen with oil companies and how to hold them accountable, and how to talk about the negative effects [they have,] and how we can rally around it”. The group plans to host another event on Dec. 10 in relation to International Human Rights day. The event, called “Write for Rights”, encourages students to write letters and notes to promote freedom and justice for human rights. The aim of the event is to take action against worldwide oppression. For students interested in taking part in the Amnesty International campus club, Seiferling encouraged students to sign up to their mailing list at aiuregina@gmail.com or join the “Amnesty Facebook group International University of Regina Campus Club”. She also adds that interested students can join the group or be added to their mailing list. The group also holds meeting on Sundays at 5 p.m.
“ There’s actually some really bad things happening, and they’re really scary and happening in the world today.” Halena Seiferling
A year after it began, where does the Quebec student movement stand today? erin hudson CUP Quebec Bureau Chief MONTREAL (CUP) — This time last year, the buzz around Nov. 10, the first full-fledged day of action planned by the student movement, was reaching a fever pitch. The 30,000-strong protest was the first step in what would become North America's largest student protests in decades with over 200,000 students bringing Quebec’s government to its knees over the course of the sevenmonth-long strike. Though emerging from the strike largely victorious, students, once united in the struggle against the government, stand divided and no longer hold the same sway over. “We dictated the political agenda for the last seven months prior to the election,” said CLASSE executive Jérémie Bédard-Wien during an event held at McGill in late September. “The election was the first time that we, students, lost control.” After the summer’s provincial election, the incoming Parti Québécois government froze tuition for the 2012-2013 year, rolling back the Liberal’s tuition hike while maintaining their $39 million increase to student aid. After the PQ came to power, the largest organization represent-
Erin Hudson
ing Quebec students throughout the strike, the temporary coalition known as CLASSE, disbanded, its personnel and projects returning to the folds of its parent student association, ASSÉ. Members of ASSÉ now work independently of university and cégep student federations, FEUQ and FECQ, though the latter two federations continue to work together. “The unity [between all of us] was to achieve the fight to have a tuition fee freeze and, since we won, now we’re going back to
fighting for our ideas,” said Martine Desjardins, FEUQ president. “We don’t have the same ideology as ASSÉ and so it’s more complicated to work for the same objectives and the same purposes.” ASSÉ advocates free education and the abolition of tuition fees whereas the federations push for accessible education and do not attack the existence of tuition fees. For FEUQ and FECQ, a close and collaborative relationship with the government serves as the
means for the federations’ to make progress on issues like the promised summit on higher education. Desjardins is often in communication with Pierre Duchesne, the newly appointed minister in charge of post-secondary. “The minister [is] listening to what we have to say and asking a lot of questions and I think it’s a good thing,” she said. But directives from Duchesne’s ministry have been slow and concrete details on initiatives like the summit on postsecondary education have yet to
be released. Both McGill and Concordia received directives officially cancelling the Liberal’s tuition hike on Nov. 2, nearly two months after the PQ announced their government would cancel the increases. While the student federations work in tandem with the government, ASSÉ is calling for its members, numbering over 100,000 students, to continue mobilizing. “In reality, though the tuition hike has been cancelled, teaching institutions are not sheltered from other dangers such as the commodification of knowledge,” stated an ASSÉ press release. ASSÉ organized demonstrations such as the Nov. 1 solidarity for former-CLASSE march spokesperson Gabriel NadeauDubois after he was found guilty of contempt of court, and the Montreal contingent for a global day of action against the corporatization of education. The day of action demonstration on Oct. 18 resulted in three arrests and the injury of one Emmanuel demonstrator, Denizon, from a rubber bullet. An international week of action is set for the week of Nov. 14. Department associations at five Quebec universities so far have adopted strike mandates for the week.
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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An impractical guide to controlling the weather Cloud-whitening, sulfur dioxide releasing, and ocean iron fertilizing regan meloche contributor Will we ever be able to turn a dial to raise and lower the global temperature to a desirable level? Could we ever detect the beginning of a hurricane, and then stop it before it causes mass destruction, like the recent Hurricane Sandy? Or could that lead to nations going to war by unleashing massive storms on one another? Is any of this even possible? Geoengineering, an environmental process that deliberately intervenes into the earth’s climate to try to change the weather, may have some answers to these questions. Throughout history, many cultures and groups have tried different methods of controlling the weather. Some ancient methods included ritual dances, ritual sacrifices, or trusting scheming salesmen to build ‘magical’ windmills that promised to cause rain. It was only in the past 60 years that the scientific basis for controlling the weather has been taken seriously and explored. One of the most popular scientific methods of geoengineering is known as cloud seeding, which could potentially be used to create precipitation. Scientists have discovered that by injecting certain chemicals, such as silver iodide, into clouds, they can cause the water molecules that make up the cloud to freeze together. This can make the water molecules heavy enough to fall to the ground as rain or snow. Further research shows that potential applications of cloud seeding could include alleviating drought and breaking up storm clouds before they escalate into something more severe. Another geoengineering application of clouds is cloud-whitening. White clouds are good at reflecting solar
theweathernetwork.com
Taxi’s underwater after Hurricane Sandy swept through New York’s streets radiation back into space, keeping the planet cooler. To whiten clouds, scientists proposed to unleash a large fleet of wind-powered boats into the ocean, each boat spraying tiny seawater particles into the sky to make whiter clouds. Proponents to this idea argue that this method would not only be inexpensive, as the boats are powered by the wind, but also efficient, as seawater is plentiful. Many geoengineering methods, such as cloud-whitening, are a result of scientists noticing how natural processes on earth affect the weather and climate of the planet. Through these observations, and equipped with scientific principles, researchers are able to hypothesize and theorize various geoengineering methods. The use of volcanoes, one of the most powerful natural forces on earth, is no exception. In 1991, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines released exten-
sive amounts of sulfur dioxide into the air. These particles react with the rest of the atmosphere, and can reflect some of the light from the sun back into space, causing the planet to cool. It is estimated that the Mount Pinatubo eruption lowered global temperatures by an average of 0.5 degrees Celsius. By replicating the effects of a volcano, and pumping sulfur dioxide high into the stratosphere, scientists predict that it could be very possible to cool the earth. That being said, ideas like geoengineering have many people worried about the invasiveness of such methods. While the field of geoengineering aims to change or control climate, it is also directly playing with the planet’s natural resources – a massive system with many complex variables. By trying to solve one problem, unintended risks or consequences could essentially cause long-term negative effects on the world’s atmopshere, clouds, ocean, and
even the weather itself. This risk was higlighted in October when the Haida Salmon Restoration Project controversially dumped about 100 tonnes of iron into the Pacific Ocean, intending to bring up the salmon population in the area. Iron ‘fertilization’ can help stimulate plankton growth, helping with salmon reproduction. Iron fertilizations also have implications on climate change. Plankton use up carbon dioxide near the surface of the water, and some scientists believe that increasing the amount of iron in the ocean will decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But, there are risks to ocean fertilization – with scientists citing risk to human health, and the potential for widespread, long lasting and severe impacts on the ocean’s environment. Some groups have also claimed that such fertilization should be illegal under UN international law. Because of the use of chemicals,
like iron and sulfur dioxide, geoengineering is often looked at as an unpopular and invasive method of climate control. As such, some researchers have suggested that geoengineering alter its methods from mass chemicalization to more environmentally friendly methods. For instance, instead of trying to use sulfur dioxide or clouds to reflect sunlight back into space, what if objects known to be good reflectors - like mirrors - were used. One suggestion given was to launch a mirror, perhaps the size of Greenland, into space and sit it between the sun and the earth, having it block out fractions of sunlight. While such methods are much more expensive, and have endless maintenance costs, they tend to be better alternatives than the chemicalization methods. If you’re somewhat familiar with the early attempts at human flight before the modern airplane, you may recall some very ridiculous designs. There were wings attached to bicycles, giant kites, wing attachments for your arms, and planes with layers upon layers of wings. Similarly today, we see an equally amusing variety of approaches to solving geoengineering problems. We want to blast clouds with chemical cannons, use wind-powered boats to spray seawater into the sky, suspend a giant pipe with balloons to pump different chemicals into the atmosphere, and launch a giant mirror into space. As crazy as these ideas may sound, it shows that many people are committed to solving a problem that may be getting worse, and someday, we may have enough control over the weather and climate to prevent another Hurricane Sandy.
Gizmos & Gadgets Your weekly dose of science and technology regan meloche contributor Falling Back: Daylight Savings Time (DST) ended this week in many places – except Saskatchewan. The idea of DST dates back to Benjamin Franklin, but wasn't actually widely implemented until after WWII. There has been at least one occurrence where twins were born on opposite ends of the time switch, making the second-born older on paper. Bad Moon Rising: Astronomers believe that the recent Hurricane Sandy was made worse because of the simultaneous full moon. During a full moon, the sun, earth and moon are all aligned, which can result in higher 'spring' tides as a result of the gravitational pull.
ABC News
New baby pandas in China. Pandas are one of the most endangered species on earth
The Szechuan Seven: A breeding centre in China has successfully bred seven baby pandas within the last three months. Pandas International estimates there are only about 1,600 pandas left in the wild, with over 300 more in captivity. Some scientists argue that the panda is too expensive to continue conserving, and should instead be left to go extinct. "Annyeong!": An elephant in Korea has learned to imitate human speech by putting his trunk in his mouth to modulate sound. The 22-year-old Asian elephant, living in a South Korean theme park, is able to mimic some commands given to him by trainers. Scientists think this behaviour may be a result of loneliness, and a desire to bond with the trainers.
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A&C Editor: Paul Bogdan aandc@carillonregina.com the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
An exhibit for you MFA student Jamie Cooper discusses his graduating exhibit, Whitney’s Biennial
Tenielle Bogdan
paul bogdan arts editor A lot of the exhibits that are shown in the Fifth Parallel gallery consist of paintings hung on the walls, but if you have walked past those glass doors in Riddell Centre within the past few weeks, you would have noticed that Jamie Cooper has done things a little bit differently--namely painting the entire gallery bright pink. “When I was a little boy, my cousins got to have their rooms painted, and I asked to have mine done too, and I asked for pink. Of course, my parents said, ‘You can’t have that’. So, this is my pink room,” said Cooper. There’s more to it than a mere makeover of the gallery and giving Cooper his pink room although the pink walls are definitely more exciting than the off-white that generally plagues most art galleries. Cooper, an MFA student here at the University of Regina, painted the gallery for his MFA graduating exhibit, Whitney’s Biennial. “Apparently pink was one of Whitney’s favourite colours. The other idea behind it is to queer the space of the gallery and completely transform it in a different way. I wanted it to be a little bit theatrical, but I also wanted it to be a bit like bubble gum, and a bit Barbie, and a bit fun,” said Cooper. The exhibit is an homage to pop sensation Whitney Houston, but it’s far more than a room that says “I love Whitney”. Whitney’s Biennial examines the appeal of divas in queer culture. “Well, about two years ago, I started to write about Whitney Houston’s queer appeal and on the topic of gay male culture. And so, there’s a long history of gay men and divas and gay men lov-
ing divas, and it goes all the way back to opera culture, through to the mid-century film stars like Bette Davis, Judy Garland, all the way up through Diana Ross, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, and of course Madonna. Today, a lot of stars are openly marketed as such, like Lady Gaga,” said Cooper. While numerous celebrity divas could have been chosen for this exhibit, Cooper focused on Whitney Houston because he “consider[s] her to be [his] diva”. “She’s sort of the star of my generation. In the research that I was doing, I used a lot of film scholars, and they talk about performative identification, which really describes the reason why gay men or queer people are attracted to stars who are really eccentric,” said Cooper. And Houston was no stranger to being eccentric. “When I think “diva”, you know, her picture would be beside that term in the dictionary ... It’s the voice ... and it’s the persona. It’s hard thing to explain, but I think it was my exposure to her as a child. I was a child during the ‘80s. It was one of the first albums that I remember ... she happened to be one of the stars of my generation that I really connected with.” Many reasons exist regarding the appeal of divas to queer culture. Firstly, “they’re fabulous”, but moreover, divas symbolize feminine power, something which is generally subjugated in a heteronormative society; it inverts the patriarchal hegemony and upsets dominant ideas of gender relations, thus proving an attraction or something to gravitate towards for a subjugated minority. “It’s a display of female feminine power, and the other thing is it’s a rejection of the gender system. So, basically it’s an outlawed cultural object for a boy to be in-
terested in. Boys are interested in sports. So, it’s non-normative. I don’t desire her, but I want to emulate - I want to be like her. There is, what I would call, an act of everyday resistance,” said Cooper. The exhibit itself is clean – both literally and figuratively – and simple. Walking in to the bubble-gum pink room, one sees a space that is primarily empty. Nothing occupies the space in the middle of the room. A few framed pictures and a bowl of candy reside in one corner, a glass case filled with magazines, albums, and other Whitney Houston paraphernalia sit in the opposite corner, and an electric piano lies in the corner opposite the doors. Cooper felt that it would have to satisfy the pop star if she were to walk through the glass doors of the gallery. “I like minimalism. I like modernism, and I’m really attracted to that sort of aesthetic. But, the other thing is that it’s about per-
fection. It’s about mimicking a space that would honour her because, well, she wouldn’t have it if it was messy. She’d be like, ‘Uh uh’. It’s the best that I can do to pay homage to her, so I wanted it to be perfect,” said Cooper. And, Cooper feels the star would be satisfied if she did end up seeing the exhibit. “I think she’d love it, and I think she’d say, ‘Hell to the no; this is fabulous,’ ” said Cooper. As well, elements of pop art are permeated throughout the exhibit. “You can see it sort of hits off of pop art ... Warhol had a lot to do with my research, how he worshiped female celebrity and how that came out in his own work. So, there’s this kind of idea that repeats itself through the work that you can see. But really, there are two shrines, and I wanted to play with the space a little bit and transform it,” said Cooper. These two shrines and pop art
sensibility are for more than aesthetic appeal though; they emphasize the theme of duplicity in the exhibit. “It tells of this troping of this cultural practice of gay men worshiping and adoring divas, but also a troping of queer lives. But, it also speaks to the doubleness of meaning in culture, especially for figures like Whitney. So, in mainstream culture, she’s been, for a long time and particularly over the last ten years of her career, marketed as always trying to come back. She was very much considered a diminished diva or an antiquated icon. I think gay men, when it comes to divas, they like to elevate marginalized cultural texts and objects and elevate them and give them new meaning. So, it’s the doubleness of meaning in cultural figures, icons,” said Cooper. Whitney’s Biennial runs until November 9.
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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Shrug it off The last movie was a total flop, but part two will be a hit, right? i’m not angry kyle leitch arts writer Aha! You thought you could sneak by, didn’t you, you putrescent piece of trash? You thought you could give me a couple of Kevin James movies to occupy my time with, and you could just waltz in the back door, completely immune to my overly critical gaze. Well, luckily for me, Kevin James movies have absolutely zero substance at all. And now, the swift hammer of justice is coming for you, Atlas Shrugged, Part II! For those of you who aren’t big up on reading books outside of your English classes, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is basically the bible for extremist objectivists, and preaches laissez-faire economics about as forcefully. For decades, people said that Atlas Shrugged could and would never be filmed because of its grand science fiction images and rather controversial approach to the economy and government. Jump from 1957, when the novel was first published, to the year 2007. That was the year that the illegitimate lovechild of Atlas Shrugged and the PC game System Shock 2 came out on the Xbox. Its name? Bioshock. Its aim? To show the world that grandiose storytelling and unique visual design in Triple-A game releases wasn’t already a thing of the past. The story of Bioshock borrows heavily – read: extensively – from the story of Atlas Shrugged. An extreme objectivist by name of Andrew Ryan builds a vast utopia under the sea. In the land of Rapture, men and women are en-
Arts Radar
Kyle Leitch
titled to the fruits of their own labour, free from government coercion. Of course, the utopia falls when human greed gets in the way, and the dystopian Rapture where the events of Bioshock take place is born. Unlike Atlas Shrugged, which received almost entirely negative critical reviews upon its release, Bioshock was met with overwhelming critical acclaim. Shortly after the game’s release, it was ported over to the Playstation 3, and, before a sequel to the awardwinning game was announced, talks of a film version were already underway. The Bioshock film quickly gained more and more momentum while the very idea of an Atlas Shrugged film seemed laughable, at best. The first signs of trouble came when the project lost three directors in as many months. Ordinarily, this isn’t unusual for a project that far in development.
But for a project that would be seemingly as big as a Bioshock movie adaptation, this only spelled trouble. But finally, a ray of hope shone through. Guillermo del Toro, the genius director behind Pan’s Labyrinth was rumoured to be interested. Here was a guy who could capture the dark atmosphere of Rapture on the brink of collapse. Things went shockingly quiet for a while. Other projects were announced, and only then would the Bioshock movie go into production. Finally, del Toro went on the record as saying that the project would be on indefinite hiatus. No studio was willing to bankroll such an effects-heavy film that was guaranteed to be rated R, so the story went. The idea of a Bioshock movie was barely in the ground before Atlas Shrugged: Part I was released in theatres. Studio backing from Lion’s Gate had fallen through, and so
the specially formed Atlas Productions had to fund the film on a shoestring budget. This confined much of the shooting indoors, and many of the name-actors that were previously attached did not appear in the film. Critically, the film was a nightmare. It raised just over $1,000,000 in the 300 combined theatres that it was shown in, for an average of $3,500 per theatre. Atlas Shrugged was a box office joke. The franchise was dead, and so was Bioshock. We may not have been happy, but we could take solace in the fact that if Bioshock wasn’t being made, then neither was Atlas Shrugged. Atlas Shrugged: Part II was released to a rousing chorus of “What the Hell?!” on Oct. 12, 2012. None of the original cast returned for this sequel, and most of the crew had been replaced. Atlas Shrugged: Part II did even worse at the box office than its predecessor, earning just shy of $700 per theatre it was shown in. What’s worse is that the remaining producers are gearing up for the third part of this floundering trilogy to be released next year. It’s been purported that, since 1957, over $40,000,000 has been spent trying to adapt Atlas Shrugged for the big screen. And my question is simply this: why in the shitting blue hell would you continue to bathe a joke of a novel in vast amounts of money when there’s a perfectly good and righteously popular video game with almost the same story just begging to be turned into a movie? Bioshock is Atlas Shrugged underwater! If you had such a raging hard-on to turn Atlas Shrugged into a movie, wouldn’t it have made sense to at the very least use source material that was relevant in the 21st century? No, instead, we’re subjected to two terrible films in a three-part shitstorm. A Bioshock movie is unlikely to happen in our lifetime, and we have these cock-eyed, mouth-breathing objectivist yahoos with more money than sense to thank for it. In short, fuck you Dagny Taggart, you train-riding whore. You, unlike so many of Rapture’s splicers, managed to bring the Big Daddy down. And if you didn’t get those references, you’re as much to blame as aforementioned objectivist yahoos. But I’m not angry. Honest.
Nov. 8 Plants and Animals w/Rah Rah The Artful Dodger $15 advance/ $18 door Doors at 7 Nov. 9 Ryan Boldt w/Kacy & Clayton The Artful Dodger $10 advance/ $15 door Doors at 7 Nov. 10 Great Rooms w/Prop Planes The Exchange $10 at the door Doors at 8 Nov. 11 Andy Shauf, Julia McDougall, and Evening Hymns The Artful Dodger $10 advance/ $15 door Doors at 7:30 Off With Their Heads, The Isotopes, Robin and the Hairy Bats, and Septic Paste The Exchange $10 advance Doors at 7:30 Nov. 15 Brie Neilson and David Simard Creative City Centre $10 at the door Doors at 7:30
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the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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STACHE TRACKER
Neil “handlebars” Adams
How’s the mustache coming?
Dietrich Neu: About what I expected. Ed Dodd: I’m a little surprised, a little bit proud, but also disappointed in comparison to Neil. Neil Adams: Unevenly. Paul Bogdan: It’s good, but I don’t know if I’m legally allowed to be within 100 yards of an elementary school with this thing. Julia Dima: It’s past itchy, and it’s proceeded to feel like I’m wearing long socks in the shower. How do you feel about your competitors’ staches?
music review
Rah Rah The Poet’s Dead Hidden Pony
The Poet’s Dead is Rah Rah’s third fulllength (not including the Rahmixes album of remixes), and it very well may be the band’s best. Both its predecessors, Going Steady and Breaking Hearts, are fine albums themselves, but Rah Rah really stepped up to the plate and cranked out a 600-foot-out-of-the-parkwalk-off-World-Series-Winning-grandslam with The Poet’s Dead. The album begins strong, and it never really lets up. But, The Poet’s Dead really takes off during the middle of the
Edward “more handsome than your boyfriend” Dodd
DN: Neil looks pretty scary. The rest of us look like we’re just neglecting our personal hygiene. ED: Well, I suspect that Paul has been dyeing his. Dietrich’s is not terribly impressive. Julia’s is also not terribly impressive. I can tell at this point, it’s coming down to me and Neil. NA: Paul’s is looking good. Dietrich’s is kind of lazy… he has a lazy mustache (Dietrich Neu did not deny these comments). PB: Neil’s handlebar is looking pretty badass. I’m just happy I’m not losing to Julia’s leg hair. JD: Paul’s is ugly; Dietrich’s is ugly; Ed’s is ugly; Neil’s is ugly.
album; “20s”, “Dead Men”, and “The Poet’s Dead” follow consecutively on the album, and they’re easily three of the best songs in Rah Rah’s entire catalogue. What’s more is that The Poet’s Dead is not only a stellar album, but it’s one that speaks to where it’s from, namely the disillusioned 20-something “socialists/Born to hope, raised to fail” who nonetheless “love this place/It’s in [our] veins”. Really, there’s not else to say about The Poet’s Dead other than it rocks. I mean, it does feature refined song structures, fantastic hooks, and a great blend of instruments and voices, but what’s really great is the tendency to continually turn up the volume louder and louder with each song that comes on. The only issue with The Poet’s Dead is how the hell Rah Rah plan make a record that can follow this one.
paul bogdan arts editor
Julia “fine grit sandpaper” Dima
Have your predictions changed for who’s going to win?
Paul “meh” Bogdan
DN: Yeah, Neil’s gonna win. ED: No, I can see at this point I’m going to have to kill Neil if I want to win. NA: No, not at all. I am definitely going to win. There’s no question at this point. PB: Nope. I’m still going to win. JD: Neil’s going to crush us.
You can vote for your favourite stache by sending an email to carilloneic@gmail.com or by stopping by the Carillon office in room 227 in Riddell Centre. Votes cost $1, and all proceeds go to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dietrich “thi s should be a mug shot” Neu
“Grandmother”
I could tell you were aging That milk creeping slowly Kept at bay, But it holds on in the soft watery crevices at the corners of your eyelids finding stability in your uncertainty Buying time until Your soul retracts into memories nebulous where you forget the names of your own womb The lack of definable space between death and dying
I could tell you were aging Your anxious hands degrade into delicate tissue paper I'm afraid to touch Soft brown spots, and the colour of veins Softly sit underneath Like the nuance of a glance Of the flirting girl you once were strange fits of passion jocelyn marsden contributor
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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Nerdgasms Video Games Live rocked the Conexus Arts Centre this past Friday ethan stein contributor Video Games Live is an event that can be enjoyed by gamers and people who have never played a game in their lives. To give a very brief overview, Video Games Live is an event where an orchestra and choir group perform faithful re-creations as well as orchestral reinterpretations of soundtracks from various video games. The orchestra began with a track from Castlevania, and from there, the audience expressed varying degrees of excitement upon hearing the opening melodies from games like Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Journey, and many other titles. Even if you don’t enjoy video games it’s still possible to appreciate the orchestral score of Mass Effect as blue lights sprinkle the arena and a space ship graciously lumbers past a neighboring planet, while the low and slightly ominous drum beats of the orchestra evoke mystery and possible danger. The piece for Civilization IV, in particular, stands out as something for non-gamers. As the Grammy-winning orchestral piece begins, the screen displays the game’s various cinematic sequences. Even if you don’t play video games, you’re witnessing an artistic interpretation of a world and culture developing and standing in majesty. The orchestral pieces were separated by occasional video skits featuring characters like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog; the videos acted as an affectionate jab at the occasional foibles, creative missteps, and weird coincidences in video game history. But, those who aren’t well versed in video game history probably won’t appreciate the humor of Sonic the Hedgehog’s agent proclaiming “Where do you see yourself in 14 years? Because I see you as a werewolf”. The segments
videogameslive.com
were cheesy in their humor and delivery, occasionally fun, and acted as a tonal contrast to the more serious orchestral pieces. The final three pieces concluded the show in spectacular fashion. The re-creation of the Skyrim theme was something you could easily enjoy on its own, but the game’s images of slaying and adventure, as well as the soundtrack all lend themselves very nicely to the theatrics and spectacle of Video Games Live. Following Skyrim was a Street Fighter piece that used strategically placed guitar riffs to evoke the nostalgic machismo and bravado of the series. Despite Street Fighter being the “final piece” for the show, Christopher Tin returned to the stage to conduct a Pokémon medley (accompanied by footage from the game and anime), much to the nostalgic delight and the gooey emotional attachment of the au-
dience (myself included). Creator Tommy Tallarico and vocalist Laura Intravia returned on stage to do a classic, single-guitar singalong of “Still Alive” with the audience waving cell phones, handheld gaming devices, and other technology in the air like lighters. The guitar sing-along would not be out of place around a campfire, and the waving LED lights would not be out of place at an AC/DC concert. While the song itself contained video game in-jokes its dark humor and charming, simple melody could still entertain those who have never played Portal. Overall, Video Games Live is a joyous submersion in nostalgia, emotion and appreciation of art. The joy and appreciation was shared, as the crowd remained mostly quiet nonetheless during the pieces, not wanting to miss a moment or note – despite Tallarico’s insistence early on that
the crowd cheer during the pieces. Further, the pieces themselves ran about two to three minutes, never outstaying their welcome for those unfamiliar with the soundtracks. Video Games Live is more than just orchestra, it’s performance in various species or incarnations. From the audio-visual orchestra/game footage pieces and performers interacting with on-screen images, to the audience cheering on competitions, Video Games Live incorporates various kinds of theatre, audience interaction and performance to create something that goes beyond video games. Rather than focusing on video game soundtracks, Video Games Live uses video games as form of appreciating art and culture; the music is a means, not an end in and of itself. You appreciate the massive scale and fantastic nature of cultural myths through Skyrim;
movie review TThe Man with the Iron Fists RZA Russell Crowe If you feel like your life has been missing some kickass kung fu action sequences lately, you’re not alone. Millions of people have been losing sleep, thinking of the sweet, sweet sound of the human skull fracturing against the bridge of another human’s foot. When the cure for what ails you is more roundhouse kicks, leave it to doctor Quentin Tarantino to present you with some medicine. Open wide, sucker, and go see The Man with the Iron Fists. Iron Fists is quite possibly one of the best movies this year, not because it’s really all that good, but because it’s trying something different than everything else. It’s one part Kill Bill, three parts Hard Boiled, throw in some Enter the Dragon, and toss Russell Crowe into the mix, just for kicks (pun
collider.com
most definitely intended). Highly stylized graphic violence, awesome set pieces, and spot-on cheesy acting is the order of the day. And, what a great order it is. The film is directed by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame, and was written by RZA and Eli Roth. Quentin Tarantino attached his name as producer to make the film just as awesome as any one movie could possibly get. Of
course, a movie bleeding such adrenaline-fueled awesome from every orifice isn’t without its faults. RZA, who also stars, is easily the weakest actor of the bunch. Some of the action sequences could really have stood to be cleaned up. But I’m not going to lose sleep over petty complaints like these. The fact is, kung fu appears to be back, and not in an ironic way, thankfully. What’s
more, RZA isn’t slowing down. His remake of The Last Dragon starring Samuel L. Jackson as Sho’Nuff is slated for release as early as next year. Now, the story of Iron Fists is a little bit messy, so if you’re going for a literary opus, you should probably try something like Cloud Atlas. Seven clans are involved in the hunt for a legendary treasure. These assassins, warriors, and
you appreciate the artistic interpretation of the world and culture through Civilization; you appreciate classic and modern music through Rock Band. This is achieved through the orchestra/game footage style; gamers see cutscenes from Civilization as the game’s theme plays, while non-gamers – even gamers, for that matter – see an artistic representation of worlds and civilizations forming while set to a Grammy-winning orchestral piece. Ultimately, I believe this is the greatest strength of Video Games Live, as it’s more than a celebration of our favorite time waster; it’s a celebration of culture, emotional attachment, and Civilization.
British guy are all led to the middle of a feudal Japanese village, where the blacksmith (RZA) resides. The Blacksmith decides that it is up to him to protect his village from the insanity that has swept down upon them. Cue up the ass-kickery. If you can forgive a needlessly complicated plot and some sloppy fighting sequences, then you’re going to find an absolute gem in The Man with the Iron Fists. The style far outweighs the substance, but if you’re going to a kung fu flick for substance, then I’ve got some bad news for you about literally every other kung fu film ever made. There are head kicks aplenty, moments of genuine humour, and I defy you to leave the theatre and not believe that it’s possible to have an entire fight sequence while suspended in midair. It’s these kind of films that make the theatre experience enjoyable, and I’d recommend not missing out on it.
kyle leitch arts writer
graphics
Visual Editor: Arthur Ward graphics@carillonregina.com the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
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sports
Sports Editor: Autumn McDowell sports@carillonregina.com the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
ROUNDTABLE
totalprosports.com
Where’s Waldo?
braden dupuis, britton gray, kris klein, paige kreutzwiser this week’s roundtable
With their 31-9 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night, the Regina Rams advance to the Hardy Cup. How do you think the Rams will fare against the Calgary Dinos on Nov. 10?
Dupuis: The Dinos have been beastly again this year, but judging by the way Mueller and the rest of the Rams are playing, I think we’re in for a good game. And it’s on TSN, which means we don’t have to tune in to Access 7’s grainy visuals and god-awful commentary. Gray: I think the Rams will go out with something to prove. They beat the Dinos once already this year and I believe that they can do it again. It is going to be a hard game and the Rams should put forth 100 per cent and kick those Dinos asses once again.
Klein: Jump on the bandwagon people, cause I believe they are Vanier bound! With Marc at the helm and the defence playing as well as they are doing right now I don’t see any way that Calgary can beat them. But, then again, anything can happen in the playoffs; but this I’m sure: the Regina Rams will be playing in the 2012 Vanier Cup. Kreutzwieser: I think the Rams stand a chance. They are the only team to beat the Dinos this year, so I am sure they can do it again. I know all the fans, myself included, who sat during the awful weather last Friday would love it if our team paid us back by just
putting out a good effort against the Dinos. Good luck boys!
Rumours are swirling that Regina Pats standout Jordan Weal will be returning to the team after being listed as a healthy scratch for the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs multiple times this season. Do you think Weal will return to the Pats and if so, which other 20-year-old would you let go to make room for Weal?
Dupuis: Full disclosure – I come from a part of the province known in some circles as the “Mid-Boreal Upland,” where the bears are free to marry whomever they choose and the only hockey team of relevance is the Prince Albert Raiders, who for the first time in years are looking mildly competent. Fuck you, Regina Pats. Gray: I think it would be good for the pats to get Jordan back, but which 20-year-old would they let go in return? I have no answer to that question mostly because I have no idea who the 20-year-olds on the team are. I feel like an idiot but at least I’m honest, right?
Klein: It would be stupid if he didn’t. Like you are staying in the AHL being a healthy scratch instead of coming back to Regina, lighting it up and improving your game. Eberle did it – coming back in his 19-year-old year instead of making the jump – and he is a better player for it. And for the 20year-old situation, I would let go of Hewitt. Trade him for a younger goaltender or some draft picks and help secure the team’s future.
Kreutzwieser: Since I know absolutely nothing about the Pats, all I have to say is: if he’s good, there might be a few more excited teenage girls going out to the games. I’m just “pucking” around. Pun intended.
After their loss to the BC Lions on Nov. 3, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are riding a four game losing streak heading into the playoffs. Are you concerned about this?
Dupuis: Not in the least. With a week of rest under some key starters in Durant, Dressler, Sheets and Willis, there’s no reason why the Riders can’t put a good old fashioned beating on the Stamps, and the horse that they’re named after. Gray: Yes I am concerned. This team has been hot and cold all season and this does not bode well for the team when it comes down to a single game elimination. This team has been inconsistent all year and I feel it’s not going to get better.
Klein: Nope not at all. The Riders have always sucked in the last few games of the season, most notably in 2010 when they lost four of their last five games and still made the Grey Cup; and that was with sleeping Kenny coaching the team. They will be focused and ready to take those Stamps to the glue factory.
Kreutzwieser: It does scare me, a lot. A four-game losing streak is not to be taken lightly. And if the Riders expect to continue through the playoffs, Durant needs to step up, and that concerns me as well, because his season has been just
okay – and “okay” doesn’t get you very far in playoffs.
Even with their new “dream team,” the LA Lakers are 0-3 to start the NBA season. Does this surprise you?
Dupuis: I’m, like, totally surprised and stuff. Last night, I couldn’t sleep cause I was all like, ‘Whaaat?’ And today I couldn’t eat breakfast cause I was just like, ‘Nooo! I’m so surprised!’ And then this afternoon I had violent diarrhea because ‘Whaaat? They should totally be winning!’ No seriously, I think I need to see a doctor. Gray: It does surprise me that team is 0-3. I knew that it would be a bit before they really gelled and dominated, but I thought with the amount of talent on the team they would still be able to win games. I expect them to get things rolling soon, though. Klein: To be honest I really don’t care. I refuse to turn to the dark side and watch basketball in place of hockey. I would rather watch Honey Boo-Boo instead of basketball. OK, that’s not true but I will not watch basketball.
Kreutzwieser: I don’t particularly like the Lakers, but besides that, no, this start does not surprise me. They have a starting lineup of veterans who clearly are too self-centred to play cohesively enough to get wins – I hate Kobe. It takes time, just like the start of the season for the 2010-11 Heat dream team.
Scum of the Earth, Gary Bettman, announced the cancellation of
this year’s Winter Classic. How do you react to this?
Dupuis: Actually, I find myself developing Stockholm Syndrome, in that I’m now totally on the owner’s side. Fuck those greedy asshole players and their overstuffed wallets. ‘Oh we’re the victims! Wahh! We’re giving up so much!’ Fuck you. There isn’t enough room here for me to fully elaborate, but seriously, just give me some fucking hockey already.
Gray: This just goes to show what the sports world has come to. Everything is now a business and is no longer played for the sport. Gary Bettman cancelled the Winter Classic because it is one of the more financial parts of the game, and what better way to get at the players then cancel one of the biggest events that they get their money from.
Klein: You know, it’s funny that even though the game was cancelled, the Toronto Maple Leafs still found a way to lose a game. All kidding aside I’m going to kill him. Seriously. And if anyone wants to join me, I accept all followers. We will avenge the 201213 NHL season if he cancels it, one way or another.
Kreutzwieser: The Winter Classic is where they serve unlimited amounts of Tim Horton’s coffee and teams compete outdoors in beer pong, with a cash prize of $25, 000 Canadian Tire money, right? Gary Bettman, how could you? I kid. But really though, I don’t care.
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
sports 15
Final countdown Women’s soccer team makes school history Soccer standouts Meagan Cormier:
Personal: Fourth-year forward Notable: Scored eight goals and five assists for a total of 13 points in 12 games this season. Was named Canada West Female Athlete of the Week on Sept. 18 after her five-point performance (4g, 1a) where she set a Cougars record for most points in a single game. Cormier also lead the Canada West in shots and shots-per-game this season, and set a Cougars record for most points in a single season.
Stephanie Possberg:
Olivia Mason
Thank God Cormier will be back next year braden dupuis sports writer Following their thrilling penalty kick victory over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Oct. 28, the Cougars women’s soccer team advanced to the Canada West final four for the first time in program history. They had their work cut out for them, however, as their next test came in the form of the 11-1 Trinity Western Spartans. “The players are looking forward to the challenge,” said Cougars head coach Bob Maltman before the match. “We know it’s going to be a great opportunity to see where we’re at.” In their only previous meeting this season on Sept. 28, the Cougars fell 3-0 to the Spartans. Unfortunately for the Cougars, their second encounter wouldn’t be much different. While neither team scored in the first 45 minutes, Trinity Western held an 11-1 advantage in shot attempts going into the half. Second-half goals from Trinity Western’s Natalie Boyd and Alicia Tesan sealed the 2-0 win for the Spartans, who now move on to face the University of Victoria Vikes for the Canada West
Championship. The Cougars had a shot at redemption on Saturday, when they faced off against the UBC Thunderbirds with third place on the line. Despite a hard-fought game on the part of the Cougars, the Thunderbirds scored one early and then went into defensive mode to capture bronze. Although the Cougars fell short of their ultimate goal, they can’t be disappointed with the strides made during the 2012 season. “I think no matter what, whether we go in and play our hardest and don’t even come up with a win, we still have had so much success this season that at the end of the day we can just be very proud of ourselves,” said Cougars leading scorer Meagan Cormier, before the game against Trinity Western. Cormier finished her fourth year of eligibility with eight goals and five assists for 21 total points – a Cougars single season record. “Personally, I’m very proud of myself as well, but I couldn’t have done it without any of these girls,” Cormier said. “The past four years that I’ve been here we’ve been working so hard, and I think just personally having the season that I’ve had is just that extra icing on the cake of the season
that we’ve had as a team.” The hard work put in over the years has started to pay off for a program that has been waiting a long time. “I think this year we just had an immense step forward, and it just feels awesome not only to represent our team, but to represent the school and our community,” Cormier said. “To see all the other athletes out here supporting us, and all the fans that we had, it just felt awesome.” Coach Maltman agreed that this season could represent a turning point in the U of R women’s soccer program. “There’s been a lot of other things that have been going on over the last two or three years that have just gradually sort of added small pieces to the puzzle,” he said. “Now we have a picture where we have a team that’s got a lot of self-belief.” The trip to the final four lends the program a sense of legitimacy that could help in the recruitment of future players. “Now we’re getting people that are looking at the program and going, ‘You know, for a smaller school, they seem to have a lot of facility venues; they’ve got a lot of scholarship opportunities. It looks like the program has sort of turned the corner,’” Maltman said. “I feel that the players who
want to come here now are genuinely serious about coming to a high quality program. They’re genuinely serious about competing within a squad that’s very motivated to excel, and that’s the kind of players that I’m looking for.” Though the 2012 season is now officially over for Cougars soccer, it’s a season that none involved are likely to forget anytime soon. “I think there’s a lot of very positive memories and experiences that this team has accumulated over this season,” Maltman said, noting the penalty-kick victory over the U of S as just one of many. The moment was made all the more special by the hundreds of spectators who braved the cold to cheer on the team. “That was phenomenal. To see that many kids come out here, and the warmth that they had for the success that this group of women had, and to sit out here and shiver for two-and-a-half hours was absolutely top-notch, world-class stuff,” Maltman said. “It was a tremendous reward for those young women of ours that have been very proud of who they are ... For them to have that success, as a coach, it’s a real fantastic moment.”
“ I think there’s a lot of very positive memories and experiences that this team has accumulated over this season.” Bob Maltman
Personal: Third-year goalkeeper Notable: Despite only starting in three Canada West contests prior to the 2012-13 season, Possberg played in nine out of 12 games for the Cougars and registered a 72-0 record. She placed second in Canada West in save percentage (.885) and shutouts per game (.56) and also posted five shutouts in nine games this season.
Sarah Novak:
Personal: Fifth-year defenceman Notable: In her final year as a member of the Cougars, Novak played in 10 out of a possible 12 games for Regina. Novak has played in a total of 63 regular season games and two playoff games for the Cougars, registering 23 shots and one assist. Novak will leave the Cougars after the team posted the best record of her career 9-5-1 and advancing to the Canada West Final Four.
Bob Maltman:
Personal: Sixth-year Coach Notable: Maltman has seen the trials and triumphs of the Cougars soccer team since 2001 when he was the assistant coach during the team’s inaugural season. After taking a break from the Cougars to explore both amateur and professional coaching options, Maltman returned to the team in May 2007. The 2012-13 season was the first time that the team has made the playoffs under the direction of Maltman and the second time in program history – the team previously reached the playoffs in 2006.
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
16 sports
The Hardy boys The Rams kill off the Huskies braden dupuis sports writer In the minutes following the University of Regina Rams massive playoff win over their provincial rivals the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, a large crowd began to form just outside of the players tunnel at Mosaic stadium. The noise level steadily rose as the Rams faithful recounted the night’s victory, and then, at the first sight of green and gold, erupted. It was a well-deserved ovation for the home team, whose 31-9 victory over the Huskies advances them to the Hardy Cup for the first time since 2007. “It feels great to beat our biggest rival at home. It’s a big deal,” said Rams quarterback Marc Mueller. “One of our goals was to have a home playoff game and win it, and now we’ve got three more goals that we’ve got to achieve.” Despite the blowout final score, the game was very much in doubt through much of the first half. On a snow-swept Taylor Field, that could only mean playoff football in Saskatchewan, the two teams battled to a scoreless first quarter. After the Rams conceded a safety that put the Huskies ahead 2-0 early in the second, the Rams
Tenielle Bogdan
Look at that fucking snow
made matters worse by fumbling deep in their own end. The Huskies managed to scoop up the ball and walk in for a touchdown, improving their lead to 9-0. But those would be the last points the Huskies could manage. The early deficit seemed to spark Mueller, who led the team downfield on the next possession for a Taylor Wandler field goal. After the defence held the Huskies to a two-and-out, Mueller returned for another big drive that ended in a 25-yard touchdown reception to second-year wide receiver Addison Richards, putting
the Rams in front 10-9 going into halftime. As the two teams came back out for the second half, the snow didn’t seem to let up one bit – and neither did the Rams. Back-to-back clutch grabs from third-year slotback, Landon Buch, put the Rams in the redzone, and the drive was capped with a TD when Buch deservingly punched it in himself on a thirddown gamble. Before the end of the third quarter, Mueller found fourthyear WR, Kolten Solomon, down the Huskies sideline, who scram-
bled 59 yards for the score, making it 24-9 Rams. A 53-yard TD reception to Buch for his second major of the night would cap the scoring in the fourth quarter, bringing the Rams scoring spree to 31 unanswered points. Mueller went 21 of 32 in the win, throwing for 393 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams huge second half has been an enduring trend throughout the season. “You can’t contain our receivers for that long,” Mueller explained. “We have too many good
guys, and too many guys who step up and make the play. Landon Buch steps up, Addison Richards steps up, Kolten Solomon ... you can’t contain us for all 60 minutes.” The big story of the semi-final victory was Buch, who caught six passes for 130 yards, two TDs and a fumble recovery. “It feels great,” Buch said after the win. “To get to the Hardy Cup is a pretty big deal, so I think everyone is excited.” The huge win over their hated rivals only serves to boost the team’s morale heading into next week’s game against the Calgary Dinos. “Everyone knows we hate each other, so it makes it that much more special for sure,” Buch said. “I think we did a good job on them, did our tasks, executed well, and yeah, we’ve got some good confidence going into next week.” “Either way, it’s going to be a tough game,” Mueller said. “They’re big, they’re physical, we’ve just got to match it.” The Calgary Dinos defeated the Manitoba Bisons 57-18 on Saturday, setting up what’s sure to be an exciting showdown for Canada West football supremacy between the Rams and Dinos. The 76th Hardy Cup will be broadcast nationwide on TSN. Kickoff is slated for 2pm on Saturday, Nov. 10.
Cold run Saskatchewan’s weather is producing winners paige kreutzwieser contributor It’s safe to say that residents of Regina hate driving around Wascana Lake at this time of year. Not because of the horrible drivers in Regina, but because of the people running outside. Who do they think they are in their spandex pants, thin wind jackets and toques, looking as if they are actually having a pleasant time outside in minus 30, making it look so effortless and enjoyable? They honestly can’t be enjoying that, can they? However, after talking to the University of Regina’s cross country female star Karissa LePage, Regina residents might not be so irritated when seeing the winter runners. LePage has a purpose for being out there in the freezing cold. Regardless of any personal issues someone could have with outdoor runners, the dedication, willpower, and discipline it takes to train and compete in cross country is amazing. This season, LePage has changed her biomechanics of running to better deal with her specific injuries that she sustained earlier in the year. She has yet to let them bother her much. Not only is she relatively pain -free but, these changed biome-
chanics LePage is doing are clearly effective. She has placed top three in every race this year as a Cougar; her best performance being the Roy Griak Invitational. “I feel like I accomplished a lot in Roy Griak, going from 17th [last year] to 3rd. It’s the race I look forward to every year,” She said. With a field of over 400 female runners, the competition to place was tough, but it’s not just placing well that LePage takes from her experience in Minneapolis. “It was all about competition,” she said. “Being able to have more experience running with other people. I was able to run with a lot of girls so I was able to push myself.” Although it is easy to tell that LePage loves competition and challenges, does she actually enjoy running outside during the winter? “It puts that much more of a challenge. It’s more mentally tough, and most of the time you are just trying to maintain stability,” she said with a chuckle. “You just really see who’s going to dig deep and go for it.” Not only does she not mind winter running, she also appreciates it. “Being in Saskatchewan, it’s great for training. We almost get this extra confidence [compared to athletes in BC and Ontario], we
Mentally, I’m just going out there and racing my own race and not worrying about other girls or this and that,”she said. So, in the end, after talking to LePage, it’s difficult to hate those people who are running outside in the winter. They are just devoted people involving themselves in a sport that takes a heck of a lot of commitment and strength.
“ Physically, we
Arthur Ward
While you’re running outside, I’ll be laying on the coach
have seen this, we’ve ran in this, we are just that much more prepared.” And prepared she is. Physically and mentally, LePage seems ready to take on her com-
petition at CIS championships on Nov. 10, in London, Ontario. “Physically, we have done all the workouts; it’s just making sure you are not injured or getting sick at this point and staying healthy.
have done all the work outs, it’s just making sure you are not injured or getting sick at this point and staying healthy. Mentally, I’m just going out there and racing my own race and not worrying about other girls or this and that.” Karissa LePage
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
sports 17
Lockout positives? I didn’t think this was humanly possible what the puck? autumn mcdowell sports editor I never thought that I would say this, but there could be some upsides to this National Hockey League lockout. The NHL is about to enter day 54 of the lockout, and after scum of the Earth, Gary Bettman, officially announced that the Winter Classic has been cancelled, it appears that there is no end in sight. Rather than grabbing the nearest pitchfork and hunting down Bettman with a screaming mob of angry hockey fans, I have decided to try to find some sort of positive outlook on the lockout. First of all, although Bettman has successfully ruined my life by putting a hold on the NHL and Winter Classic, his grubby paws can’t get anywhere near my beloved World Juniors, and for that I am truly grateful. If the NHL is still on lockout by the time Christmas rolls around, then Canada will have an absolutely unreal World Junior team, and their chances of winning gold at the tournament will go up dramatically. Even though Canada is always the favourite heading into the tournament – that happens when you have a 14-year medal streak – we haven’t won gold since 2009, which really depresses me.
tapiture.com
I would love to send the Hanson Bros after Bettman
The last time that the NHL was in a lockout, during the 04-05 season, Canada’s World Junior team was so talented that all other countries should have just forfeited the tournament to save themselves the embarrassment. With the likes of Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Dion Phaneuf, Shae Weber, and countless other beauties, team Canada easily rolled through the competition and took home the top prize. While this year’s roster may
not be quite as stacked as the one back in 04-05, it has amazing potential. Multiple members from last year’s bronze medal team – really Canada, bronze? – could dawn the maple leaf once again this year. Guys like Ryan Strome, Mark Sheifele, Ryan Murphy and Boone Jenner are all playing with their junior teams due to the lockout and would be readily available for the tournament. With a little bit of luck, Canada
could have Edmonton Oilers stud Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on their roster as well. RNH is currently playing in the American Hockey League with the Oilers farm team, the Oklahoma City Barons. However, it’s doubtful that it would take much convincing to have RNH lead Team Canada. Besides the World Juniors, there are a few other positives that have come from this lockout. For instance, Pheonix Coyotes funny man, Paul Bissonnette, will actu-
ally get to play hockey this year. If playing time in the NHL depended solely on how hilarious and unreal a player’s tweets were, then Bissonnette aka @BizNasty2point0 would be a first line centerman. Unfortunately, that’s not how the game works, so Bissonnette is usually forced to ride the pine during the season or watch the boys from up in the press box – thank God that handle bar mustache looks good in a suit. However, with the lockout, Bissonnette has been suiting up with the Cardiff Devils of the U.K.’s Elite Ice Hockey League and has actually been scoring goals. Good on ya, Biz. Most importantly, the real advantage to the lockout is that hockey fans do not have to hear Pierre McGuire’s annoying voice giving his ridiculous and meaningless commentary during NBC’s broadcasts of the NHL. Seriously, if I hear McGuire make one more idiotic comment, or say “That’s icing, Gord” one more time I am just going to snap. While the NHL lockout has an uncanny amount of negative and annoying aspects, there are a few upsides to the lockout – namely, the shutting up of Pierre McGuire. Now, if only I could get Bettman to shut the hell up, my life would be perfect.
Cougars briefs We love weekend splits
and were able to capture a first-set victory over the top ranked team (25-20); however, the home team could not keep up with the visitors pace. The visiting Spartans went on to take the next three consecutive sets 25-20, 25-18, 25-14 to secure the victory and earn the weekend sweep over the Cougars. Regina (1-3) will travel to Edmonton this weekend to take on the University of Alberta (2-2).
autumn mcdowell sports editor Women’s basketball
The No. 2 ranked Cougars women’s basketball team suited up in pink jerseys on Nov. 1 for their annual Shoot For The Cure game against highway rivals, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (No. 6). Unfortunately, the pink jerseys were not a good luck charm for the home team and the Cougars fell to the Huskies 70-65 in overtime. The loss marked the first time the Cougars had been defeated in a conference game since Feb. 12, 2011, when they also lost to Saskatchewan. However, after the nail biting score on Thursday night, the Cougars travelled to Saskatoon just two days later to take on the Huskies once again with a different outcome. The Cougars earned a 79-65 victory over the home team on Saturday night, giving them a 1-1 record to start the season. The Cougars next action will be this weekend against the Winnipeg Wesman (0-2) in hostile territory. Men’s basketball
Much like the women’s team, the Cougars men’s basketball team faced off against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Nov. 1
Men’s volleyball
Emily Wright
Bucket list: #63 Learn to dunk
and 3. While many people expected that the No. 5-ranked Huskies would walk all over the No. 13 Cougars and cruise to an easy victory, Cougars newcomer Frank Brown was not going to let the Huskies spoil his debut. Brown had a game-high 28 points to help the Cougars capture the 95-90 upset over the visitors. Unfortunately, the tables would turn on Saturday night. On their second meeting of the week, the Cougars fell 74-89 to the Huskies, which also gives them a 1-1 record to kick off the regular season. The men’s team will make the
trip alongside the women to Winnipeg to take on the Wesman (0-2). Women’s volleyball
The top ranked team in the nation, Trinity Western University, was in town on Nov. 2 and 3 to put the young Cougars women’s volleyball team to the test. As predicted, the inexperience of the Cougars – who have zero fifth-year players – fell to the Trinity Western Spartans in three straight sets by scores of 25-17, 2520, and 25-21 on night No. 1. The Cougars came out firing on all cylinders on Saturday night
The Cougars men’s volleyball team continued their tough schedule against the No. 2 Trinity Western Spartans last weekend at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport. The Spartans, who have notoriously dominated the men’s university volleyball circuit, easily took game No. 1 in three quick sets by scores of 25-21, 25-11 and 25-16. However, the Spartans wouldn’t have it that easy on night No. 2, as the Cougars came out with something to prove. Regina came out of the gates Saturday night and scored two consecutive set wins (25-23, 2523), but with their backs against the wall, the Spartans fought back. Trinity Western was able to win the next two sets 25-19 and 25-22 to send the game to a deciding game five. Unfortunately, the final set of the match was anything but a
back-and-forth battle as the Spartans had more gas left in the tank than the Cougars and hit cruise control to an easy 15-6 victory. Despite what their record says on the Cougars website, Regina is now 0-4 in the regular season, the website decided to award the team one win for effort apparently. Women’s hockey
The Cougars women’s hockey team has greatly improved since last season. Instead of scraping the bottom of the Canada West barrel, the Cougars are currently third with a 6-4 record after earning a weekend split against the Saskatchewan Huskies last weekend. It was the defence providing the offense on night No. 1 as three out of four goals were scored by blueliners, which allowed the Cougars to earn a 4-3 victory over the visiting Huskies. However, neither side of the Cougars attack was able to generate any offense on night No.2 in Saskatoon and the Cougars fell to the Huskies 0-2. The Cougars will enjoy a week off before travelling to Edmonton to take on the University of Alberta on Nov. 1617.
op-ed
Op-Ed Editor: Edward Dodd op-ed@carillonregina.com the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
opinion
Our university
Last week, you may have received a somewhat cryptic email from the university about the results of a forum that you weren’t invited to. Fear not, student, you were invited – you just didn’t know it. Maybe it’s because the university did almost nothing to publicize an event of which they should presumably be proud. Maybe it was because the email invite was sent out the Friday before the event which happened Monday afternoon. Maybe it’s because the email, while inviting the “university community”, was only sent to faculty and not to students. Whatever the reason, though, this oversight does not look very good for an administration already criticized for not being transparent enough in its strategic planning. And they must be transparent, especially to students whose futures will be affected by any funding freezes or cuts to faculties. To be fair to the administration, they are working with a government that is vehemently anti-intellectual in its stance on funding post-secondary education. It’s tough to see how the Sask. Party can tout cutting education taxes in their budget and still claim to care about education at any level from primary to post-secondary. But in light of that, transparency does not become a peripheral concern for the administration. Twenty-five faculty have been laid off – or they’ve experienced “small, discretionary employment impacts,” whichever term you prefer to use – and faculties continue to experience severe attrition while administration budgets have been ballooning for several years. This is not unique to our university, but a trend across most Canadian universities. At the strategic plan forum VP David Button suggested that administration layoffs are not something the executive likes to brag about, but it seems they are also not too eager to brag about the six-figure salaries they themselves are bringing home. Last year, Vianne Timmons disclosed that she made over $337,000 from the university, and that’s before benefits and bonuses. No one needs to make that kind of money, especially when the average personal income in Canada hovers somewhere around $32,000 a year. The classic argument that the university has to pay Dr. Timmons more because we need to compete with other universities to keep her is ridiculous. We should not be content with our deplorable situation just because other places have it worse. And if Dr. Timmons is only here for the money, then perhaps we should find a new administrator that cares
Edward Dodd
more about education and the university itself rather than lining their pockets. Dr. Timmons is a very friendly person, but if she’s only here for the money I would not want our institution to hold her back from making way more money somewhere else. But one wonders if the administration is really good with our money. For example, our Provost and Vice President Academic Thomas Chase literally told the university community that when he looks at graphs of enrolment numbers, he sees “hopes and dreams of students” and not simply numbers. While the sentiment is sweet like Splenda, I would hope that when the person in charge of an academic review involving millions of dollars looks at a graph of money coming in from enrolment, he sees numbers – not student dreams, nor rainbows or unicorns for that matter. Who finds hopes and dreams in the enrolment numbers? Whatever happened to the old-fashioned method of, I don’t know, asking students what their hopes and dreams are? It’s all very lovely to assume that enrolment numbers reflect hopes and dreams, but what about the huge number of students that choose arts? It is the largest faculty on campus, yet when it is reviewed it is chipped away here and there. No wonder enrolment numbers for Arts are down compared to other faculties. If I was a prospective student looking at this university’s current attitude towards liberal arts,
I might very well consider enrolling somewhere that actually seemed to care about what I wanted to do. The situation is not hopeless, though. Engagement by the few students that found out about the forum against all odds managed to get students on the email list for these things in the future. The administration also sent an advertisement for the next forum to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the Education Auditorium to be put in the Carillon, and URSU is holding another forum on the academic review program on Nov. 19. Our student representatives on the University Senate have told the administration that the level of student involvement in the academic review is not good enough, and the administration is beginning to listen. Imagine what dozens or hundreds of students could do? We can hold our administration responsible for their actions; we’ve already proven we can force change. There is no administration without students to administer. We must remind them of that fact. I know it is easy to look at the homework we have and the jobs we have to hold down to pay tuition to our university and think that we will have our degrees in a couple years and that this won’t affect us. But it does. If it doesn’t affect us directly, it might affect our children when they decide they want to go to university. If you care about this university and want it to le-
gitimately be a better place to study for the students that come after you, it is important to get involved. And if you don’t care about this university and once you get your degree you’ll have absolutely zero attachment to this place, then maybe it’s time to ask ourselves why that is. Is it because we don’t feel like we belong here? Does getting shut out of nearly all meetings about our university’s future have something to do with it? Do we not truly feel welcome here? I love this university. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t care what happens with this program and I would be content to get my degree and leave it behind forever. But I can’t. I care too much about this university to give in to apathy regarding its future. We can’t keep throwing our hands up in defeat and telling the administration “it’s UR university, do what you want with it.” It’s our university. And it’s time we get a say in how it is run.
edward dodd op-ed editor
URSU 180 As the URSU executive and board members pass the six month mark of their term, I think it is fair to make an assessment on how they are doing. Like Barack Obama in 2008, The URSU executive inherited the reigns of an organization that was heavily in debt. While the United States’ debt makes the debt URSU racked up look like peanuts, the negligent spending of the previous URSU regime lost students approximately $200,000 and is a huge dent in URSU’s finances. While I could go into the financial damages that were caused by last year’s regime, it would be prudent to compare the first six months of the public relations nightmare that was last year’s URSU with the six months of this current executive.
This year’s executive has planned board meetings while incorporating proper training sessions for the students who serve on the Board of Directors. This is in stark contrast to last year. Last year, the board of directors were called to a meeting where they were told to vote on sponsorship funding when the annual URSU budget had not even been proposed or drafted yet. Speaking of the budget, this year’s annual budget was presented in an efficient manner thanks to board member training. The training helped this year’s board of direc-tors ask valid questions and concerns to Mike Staines, the URSU general manager. Last year’s board members did not receive any training on how to go over the URSU annual budget or instructed on how the
annual budget works. To some, the budget is another item on a long list of objectives to accomplish. To others, the budget is considered to be the single most important item that needs to be handled with great care. With URSU’s reputation and communications with social media accounts there has been a drastic turn around. There has been scarce, or nonexistent, perceived cyber-bullying and harassment on the URSU Facebook page or Twitter account. Unlike last year, the executives no longer have personal URSU Twitter accounts which they use to agitate political leaders, students, or university administrators that place URSU, the university, or the province in a negative light. This year’s executive and board mem-
bers have handled media scrutiny, controversy, and the haters that spawned from last year with tact and civility. Ranging from the CFS-SK scandal, being honest with URSU board members about re-instating free classes for the executives, and advocating for two students facing deportation, it is clear URSU this year has raised the bar drastically. However, to be fair, URSU didn’t have to do much to raise the standards of a student government and, like the year-end budget they inherited, URSU’s credibility and reputation are just beginning to trail out of the red.
jordan palmer contributor
the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012
op-ed 19
Parking heaven
Some people have been yelling it up around campus that they pretty much hate Impark because it slowly eats away at the heart of our city. This might be true, in whatever imaginary case a city might actually have a heart. Whether it calls for hate is another question entirely. Surely we’ve got better things to hate on than parking lots – anyone else have homework? Or are these lots really so inanimate and spacious to be that bothersome? If anything, Impark is actually very much a part of the “heart” of our own and many other cities. People often drive to their jobs and since there’s a lot of jobs downtown, it makes a bit of sense that a lot of parking is probably going to be deemed a relative necessity which might even go on to take priority over clean air and exercise. Impark is notorious for providing a lot of people with a place to park, who then may go off to have an enjoyable day at work or whatever. Impark provides some open space, charges a nominal fee, and then we all win. Sure, there’s some potentially better uses for available space within the core of our expanding city, but making a square profit – or as much as we can – off some good old clear and empty ground in a heavily trafficked area is pretty much a no-brainer. But anyway, even after we decide we’ve finally accumulated some satisfactory profits, the space will still be thoroughly empty,
Emily Wright
Or, you could try walking?
and even pretty much ground-level. This space will still be perfectly suitable, then, for building or developing in whatever way we see fit with our beautiful piles of piles and profit that Impark surely reinvests, always, within the local economy. This time, when and if we ever choose to redevelop the parking space into whatever we see fit, will be arguably crucial for the future direction of our urban enterprise and we will therefore have some explicitly crucial decisions to make. One of these explicitly crucial decisions shall no doubt be to decide what it is we see fit to take the place of that precious lot of beautifully empty, profit-making space. Of course everyone will have their lovely opinions and they will all be gathered up for a peaceful and democratic discussion. Some will call for some more green space, some for more office space. Others will be after tennis courts, for sure, and some will be only at the meeting for the coffee. Some will have new ideas which have gone previously unheard, and some might be afraid to speak up. Some will call for a unicorn ranch. Someone impartial should mediate this discussion, but who’s ever really impartial except the profits?
dustin christianson contributor
For sale: Canada A slow death
With Remembrance Day fast approaching and poppies starting to appear, the nation is once again starting to rev-up its annual campaign to remember the sacrifices that soldiers have made for this nation and the freedoms and privileges that all of us, Canadians and non-Canadians alike, enjoy in this great nation. Our veterans should fill our hearts with pride, even if we may oppose how these men and women are used and the wars that they have fought. They answered a call and were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect all Canadians and our way of life. One of the foundational principles and freedoms that our armed service personnel have fought and died for is democracy, the very essence and lifeblood of the Western world. This principle of democracy is under threat today, being challenged, desecrated, and destroyed daily in our nation by a common enemy. That enemy is not an Islamist radical, a right-wing neo-Nazi, or left-wing domestic Communists. Instead, our common enemy is our democratically elected Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. This past week on Nov. 2, the CanadaChina Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPPA) was ready to be signed and ratified. Whether it was signed into law or not is a little difficult to ascertain at the time of writing, but that fact is of secondary importance. Most important is the fact that our nation’s leaders have hitched this country to China in a grossly undemocratic manner. The C-CFIPPA was not given due course in the House of Commons, being kept secret from the general electorate and most Parliamentarians. No debate was allowed to be held, access to the relevant documents were denied MPs who wished to study the implications of this agreement, the Conservatives refused to send the C-CFIPPA to Committee where it could be studied, and an Emergency Debate was flatly refused. Canada’s most significant trade-related deal since NAFTA is going to be a hush-hush deal by Harper and his cronies. Now, you might read that Canada has other FIPPA agreements with other nations, and that is true. However, the C-C-FIPPA diverges significantly from these other agreements in that Communist Chinese state owned enterprises (SOE) can in fact
claim damages against the Canadian government in secret, for decisions taken at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level that result in a reduction of their expectation of profits. Even decisions of Canadian courts can give rise to damages. Harper is turning our nation into a laissezfaire disaster, allowing foreign business entities to exploit our nation for its resources and ruin our pristine ecosystems in the process. It is galling to see that Harper is taking what was once a great nation and allow the world to steal its resources. Even worse, people defend this man and his cronies and would likely vote for him again. The reasoning behind that is mind-boggling. Of course Alberta and its government is on-board with this acid trip, since it is the province that thinks it’s oil needs to be extracted at all costs, no matter how dirty it is. That is not to say the government of this province is any better. Brad Wall and his party of elitist business gangsters would love to throw our natural resources at anyone who would buy them, privatize the crowns, and deregulate everything and let business rule the day. It is time that we, the people, take back this great nation and return it to the democratic principles that it is founded on. We cannot allow for Harper and the Conservative Party to ruin this nation any longer. Give voice to your disgust at what is happening behind closed doors. Do not let one man ruin our country, expose Canadians to threatening agreements with foreign entities, or allow this nation to be desecrated. As we remember the sacrifices our veterans have made for this nation and for every Canadian, take the time to thank them and remember their sacrifice. Yet, do not forget that this nation and the democratic principles that these veterans sacrificed for, or were prepared to sacrifice for, are being undermined daily by people within the institutions they died to protect. Collectively we must all remember that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
sebastian prost contributor
Democracy in Canada is dying. While countries around the world wage revolution so they can have a democracy as found in Canada, we let ours slip away slowly. Many issues contribute to this phenomenon, for example, the proroguing of parliament and legislatures across Canada. Two recent examples are Christy Clark, Premier of British Colombia, canceling the fall session of the legislature and opting to campaign instead, and former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty proroguing the Ontario legislature and stepping down in the midst of a gas-plants controversy and an economically weak Ontario receiving equalization payments for the first time in equalization payment history. Clark’s canceling of this fall’s session flies in the face of Canadian democratic values. The upcoming election should not be the reason to cancel the sitting, but rather be the reason for it. Here the opposition performs its valuable role critiquing the government and its policies, while the government would formulate and defend those policies, both sides representing the people of B.C, and therefore completing their democratic role. Clark doesn’t see it like this. As ugly as these politics seem, question period and such, they are democracy’s linchpin. They give the opposition the chance to speak and represent the population that voted for them and therefore, when leaders prorogue parliament, they are choosing to stifle the democratic rights of a certain percentage of the electorate. Premiers that do this forget two critical things: that they are responsible to the legislature, and that they are not just the Premier for those who voted for them, but for the entire province. But these are just two examples within provinces, so how is democracy in Canada dying as a whole? Firstly, the tactic of omnibus legislation smothers democracy. Supporters claim it is more efficient, because hey, since they have a “majority” anyway, why don’t they just pass a bunch of bills at once, instead of going through the drawn out, pedantic democratic bill passing process so many times? This is undemocratic because every bill is supposed to be debated, even in a
majority situation, because this lets the opposition voice the opinion of Canadians who did not vote for the government. Furthermore, the Conservatives could use this type of bill for political advantage later, saying that another party voted against “this idea,” found in an overloaded omnibus bill. This fallacious argument is reminiscent of Vic Toews’ famous “he can either stand with us or with the child pornographers” rhetoric. Secondly, our electoral system allows for a government to form a majority with only a plurality of the votes. Of the 61.1 per cent of Canadians that voted in 2011, Harper only won 39.62 per cent of their votes, which means that overall fewer than 39.62 per cent of Canadians elected this government. Yet this Conservative party controls the House of Commons with a majority. Thus, these signs foretell that our democracy is slowly dying, and due to one critical fact: politicians derive their mandate from the people, and if the people don’t care, if they don’t participate, and if they aren’t vigilant of their governments, then politicians will naturally push the threshold as far as they can. The fate of Canadian democracy does not lay in the hands of the politicians, but instead the people. If every Canadian demanded that government be more transparent, for example, then they would be. For what the people demand, parties try to cater to, to win votes, but as long as Canadians remain in the chains of apathy, then they allow democracy to suffocate.
michael chmielewski contributor
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the carillon | Nov. 8 - 14, 2012